Minnesota has major issues ahead for bowl game

[RickRund]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/report-min ... 44603.html
Minnesota players announce boycott of team activities after suspension of 10 players

[wbtfg]

Wow. ****** deal.


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[Montanabob]

So I am confused. The coach suspended the ten players but is supporting the remaining players refusal to practice or participate in the bowl game?
So one please explain that.

[Grizaddict]

So I am confused. The coach suspended the ten players but is supporting the remaining players refusal to practice or participate in the bowl game?
So one please explain that.

Most schools have taken the head coach out of the equation and the ultimate decision lies often with the AD, as it did here. In fact the president was part of the decision, too. I got into a good debate here around Joey Counts suspension from the Griz this year over this as well. Griz have a student code of conduct that takes punishment out of the coaches' hands and places it on the AD, in an effort to remove potential coach bias. Here is the quote from that article on MN:

. In a prepared statement, Wolitarsky, after announcing the plan to boycott, requested university president Eric Kaler and athletic director Mark Coyle be “held accountable for their actions.”

University President Eric Kaler said in a letter to university boosters dated Wednesday that Claeys made the decision to suspend the players, with support from athletic director Mark Coyle. Coyle echoed that statement when he briefly met with media on Wednesday night. But two sources said Thursday that the decision was made at a level higher than Claeys. The sources expected Claeys to support his team’s boycott.

[The Butcher]

From ESPN:

If Minnesota boycotts the National Funding Holiday Bowl, Northern Illinois would be the replacement team based on the Huskies' APR (Academic Progress Rate) ranking, sources tell ESPN.

Minnesota players are boycotting all football activities after what they said was an unsatisfactory meeting with athletic director Mark Coyle over the suspensions of 10 teammates.

NIU had the next highest APR of the 5-7 teams, but the NCAA's Football Oversight Committee would have to officially approve the Huskies replacing Minnesota, if the Gophers decided not to play, sources said.

The Gophers are slated to play Washington State on Dec. 27 in San Diego.

The Huskies would "likely play" in the game if a decision could be reached in the next 48 hours, a source told ESPN. Among the challenges for NIU, a source said, would be getting its student-athletes to the San Diego bowl since NIU's commencement was last weekend and some student-athletes have already left campus. Other challenges would be having enough practices and preparation time to prepare for Washington State.

Sources said moving the Holiday Bowl back a few days to allow NIU more preparation time is not an option for several reasons, including existing travel plans by Washington State, local accommodation and television commitments, and other factors.

Interesting that APR is used to determine who is the first choice to replace a team in a bowl game.

[AlphaGriz1]

All of these players should sue the university for libel, total ******.

[wbtfg]

This isn't going to turn out well for anyone. Sad


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[Rich K]

If Minnesota is no longer willing to play in the Holiday Bowl, I suggest that the Holiday Bowl committee consider giving NDSU an invitation. They are the best team that is now available.

[TomCat88]

I'm a Gophers fan from way back when. Maybe the players are just using this as an excuse to get out of going to this meaningless bowl game. Reminds me of South Park's Little League baseball team.

[RickRund]

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.co ... iday-bowl/

Yes, would loved to have heard the conversation at that meeting...